Margaret Birch facts for kids

Margaret Birch (born June 13, 1921, died October 29, 2020) was an important Canadian politician in Ontario. She was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. From 1971 to 1985, she represented the Scarborough East area of Toronto in the Ontario Parliament. She also became a cabinet minister in the government led by William Davis. Margaret Birch made history as the first woman to be a cabinet minister in Ontario.

About Margaret Birch

Margaret Birch was born in Leamington, Ontario. She grew up and went to school there. Before becoming a politician, she was very active in her community. From 1963 to 1971, she was in charge of the Scarborough Board of Health. She also worked with the Mental Health Council and the Social Planning Council. She was even on the Board of Governors for Scarborough Centenary Hospital.

Margaret Birch was the first woman to join the conservative Albany Club of Toronto. The Premier at the time, Bill Davis, suggested she join. She married Guy Birch in 1949, who worked as a newspaper editor. They had two children. Guy passed away in 1992. In 1986, a special part of the Centenary Hospital, called the Margaret Birch Wing, was opened in her honor. This hospital is now part of the Rouge Valley Health System.

Margaret Birch's Political Journey

Margaret Birch first tried to join the Scarborough council in 1962. She didn't win that time, coming in third place.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1971, Margaret Birch was elected to the Ontario Parliament (called the Legislative Assembly of Ontario). She won the election in Scarborough East, defeating the Liberal candidate Tim Reid. She was re-elected three more times in 1975, 1977, and 1981.

Making History as a Cabinet Minister

On September 28, 1972, Margaret Birch was appointed to the cabinet as a Minister without portfolio. This meant she was a minister without a specific department, but she was responsible for youth issues. This appointment was very important because it made her the first woman ever to be a cabinet minister in Ontario.

Later, on February 26, 1974, she was promoted to Provincial Secretary for Social Development. This was a very big role, overseeing many different areas like health, social services, and education. Her job was to make sure these different government departments worked together smoothly.

In July 1983, Margaret Birch decided to step down from her cabinet role. She then became a special assistant to Premier Bill Davis. In this role, she helped organize the 1984 Ontario Bicentennial celebration, which marked 200 years since Ontario was created. She had wanted to leave politics earlier, but Premier Davis convinced her to stay on.

Child Care Discussions

In 1974, Margaret Birch was involved in important discussions about child care. She put forward a set of ideas known as the Birch Proposals. These proposals aimed to change child care rules, such as how many children one adult could look after and the training staff needed. However, these ideas were criticized by many groups, including both non-profit and for-profit child care centers. Because of the criticism, the government eventually decided not to go ahead with her proposals.

Cabinet Positions Held